If you caught this post on “2017 Plans” last month, then you know I stopped doing monthly “goal” posts just about as quickly as I started. The perfectionist in me came out in full force trying to reach the goals I had made oh so public. While I do think it’s important to set goals, and my blog is definitely a nice revenue stream for me, watching it grow and flying by the seat of my pants a little has been what keeps it fun!
Here is a quick look back on January 2017 from a personal standpoint:
– This month took a serious emotional toll on me. Between politics and people, it feels like the month of ego’s run rampant and negativity everywhere I turn. This month consisted of a lot of beach time, binge watching, Mexican food, pizza, and tea —> basically my self-care mega-load.
– This year my word is “organized” — Oprah said she used to have a guiding word each year, but she found that whatever she themed her year as she got a bunch of stuff that tested the ish out of it… Which basically feels like what’s happening in my life. Due to the emotional rollercoaster, my organizational skills have gotten all flipped upside down. If you are struggling and feel like you keep hitting set back after set back, just know you are not alone.
Which leads me to something new I am trying at the start of each month: a quick themed round-up of past posts on TCM!
This months post are to help you go from feeling totally lost and overwhelmed to just simply confused — haha see what I did there? Confused millennial and all that jazz ?.
5 Signs It’s Time To Take A Step Back
Coping With Anxiety In Real Life
3 Ways Simplifying Your Life Can Boost Happiness
How To Write Your Life’s Mission Statement
3 Secrets To Believing In Yourself
How Millennials Can Figure Out What To Do With Their Lives
3 Areas To Focus On When Feeling Lost As A Millennial
Lauren Louise Photography
Top 10 New Posts From January:
*These are the top 10 from what was posted in January only, not top 10 overall.
5 Cleaning Hacks For Other Confused Millennials
3 Areas To Focus On When Feeling Lost As A Millennial
The Confused Millennial’s Guide to Wedding Details
5 Conversations To Have Before Getting Engaged
How To Create An At Home Photography Studio On A Budget
3 Ways Simplifying Your Life Can Boost Happiness
Loving Lately & Bachelor Week 4 Recap
Ask Rachel: How To Overcome The “First Post Jitters” As A New Blogger
Loving Lately & Bachelor Week 1 Recap
Dress Similar: Black & White | Similar Scarf: Ombre & Jacquard & Cable | Similar Hat: Cheaper Option & More Expensive | Shoes
January Posts for Forbes:
3 Benefits Companies Can Provide To Boost Work-Life Balance
Can Re-Framing Resilience Improve Work-Life Balance?
Why Companies Should Encourage Millennials To Take Bleisure Trips
Millennial Parents, 5 Tips To Successfully Work Part-Time Remotely
3 Millennial Myths Debunked By A Gen X’er
Jamie
February 1, 2017 at 10:50 amThanks for rounding all of these posts up Rachel! Loving that black dress!
xx, Jamie
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:24 amThank you Jamie!
courtneyfashionista
February 1, 2017 at 11:00 amI agree that January was an emotional month fill with too much negativity! I coped the same way you did! Hoping that this month is much more positive!
Xo,
Courtney
http://www.courtneyfashionista.com
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:25 amSame! Sending you positive vibes <3
Miss ALK
February 1, 2017 at 11:03 amAlways fun to look back at the best posts of the month! You had some killer content!!
xoxo A
http://www.southernbelleintraining.com
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:25 amThank you so much!
Alex
February 1, 2017 at 11:12 amThat pillow is ADORABLE and I’m loving these posts! January really was a pretty awful month
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:25 amHaha thank you! It’s from nordstrom a couple of years ago!
Chelsea
February 1, 2017 at 11:50 amTotally pinning this for later, Rach! 😀
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:25 amThanks Chelsea!
Jenny
February 1, 2017 at 12:44 pmLove all of these posts! So helpful. January was a bit of a mess for me too haha.
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:25 amThanks Jenny!
Sydney Power
February 1, 2017 at 1:34 pmI swear it was new years just last week! But i loved all your content, it was awesome!
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:25 amOmg right?! And thank you so much!!
Anna Hubbard
February 1, 2017 at 3:23 pmDude, I seriously love all your posts! As a self identifying confused millennial, I look forward to reading your blog!
-Anna | http://www.fivefootandfabulous.com
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:25 amAweee thank you Anna! That literally just warmed my heart!!! <3
Elly Leavitt
February 1, 2017 at 6:31 pmJanuary was such a headache for me too… especially re: the political situation currently happening. good to know we have similar coping methods re: pizza 😉 organised is a great “theme” to have! x
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:26 amGirl same!! That’s what I was primarily referencing with why January was so dang frustrating! lol BTW I think you would like the new netflix show, santa clarita diet, the humor I think would speak to you haha
Mary Duggan
February 1, 2017 at 6:54 pmBeaching, binging, Mexican food and pizza?? Hey, girl there’s nothing wrong with that! Sounds like we should be friends, haha.
Xo / easilyinspired-blog.com
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:27 amHaha yasss! I’m so down!
Alix Maza | A Pint-Sized Life
February 1, 2017 at 9:17 pm‘How Millennials can Figure Out What to do with Their Lives’ is something for me!
Alix | http://www.apintsizedlifeblog.com
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:27 amHope you enjoy it and it helps!
Kristin Cook
February 1, 2017 at 9:36 pmI especially enjoyed “Cleaning Hacks” and “At Home Photo Studios”. I am so excited to try those light bulbs you recommended.
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:28 amoh they are a game changer! The only complaint i have with them is you can’t dim them (they start flickering)! I was so surprised by how popular the cleaning hacks post was! I thought it would do well, but it did great!
Maegan Clark
February 1, 2017 at 10:33 pmI feel you on the negativity. I’ve just been avoiding it – which I’m not sure what that says – but life is to short to fight every.single.battle.
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:28 amhaha i hear that. <3
fairyprincessjord
February 2, 2017 at 12:55 pmI can’t even tell you how many times I’ve felt lost, I think it’s just part of being in your twenties. I hope February starts to feel a little less chaotic for you!
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:29 amAgreed and thank you!
Whitney H
February 2, 2017 at 1:55 pmI think a lot of people are feeling the same way, just overwhelmed and lost. I know I sure have been! This is a great collection of inspiring posts. Way to go girl 🙂
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:29 amThank you Whitney!
Christine Martinez
February 2, 2017 at 2:21 pmI can 100% relate to feeling that way! I really want to be more productive in 2017. I will definitely be reading some of these articles. 🙂
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:29 amHope they help Christine!
Jessica Lam
February 2, 2017 at 4:23 pmThis is a great list of articles! Also, you made me crave Mexican food haha!
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:29 amGirl I am getting brisket nachos tonight and am so dang excited about it haha
Rachel C
February 2, 2017 at 8:16 pmHaha girl, that’s the EXACT reason I never do monthly goals lists on my blog!!! The pressure I put on myself to get everything done outweighs any satisfaction and pride I feel in getting ANYTHING done if I don’t complete the list 🙁
Courtney Drew
February 2, 2017 at 9:22 pmI agree with you completely on not making your goals public…I tried it once and I felt so overwhelmed and always felt the pressure to succeed on the goals I made because I knew my followers were counting on me. I make personal goals and lists that I would LOVE for them to happen but no more publicizing them!
Courtney
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:30 amOmg thank you! You are the only other person to say they felt like that too! I have daily lists and everything, but honestly, if I don’t reach them, it’s not a big deal — plus I couldn’t share on the blog HOW I planned on reaching them since I am a blog coach/consultant and I can’t give alllll the secrets away for free haha
Tori Moore
February 2, 2017 at 10:38 pmJanuary was so full of negativity, especially there at the end… I hope February will be a more positive month.
Tori
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:30 amAgreed
Nicole Parise
February 3, 2017 at 7:54 amBy now, most people have let the ‘restart’ part of January fly by 😛 and I always keep my goals to myself ha! Then no one will know.
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:31 amlol love it Nicole!
Kirsten Ortez
February 3, 2017 at 9:34 amThis is one of my favorite roundups yet. Definitely bookmarking to come back and read these.
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:31 amAweee thank you so much Kirsten!!! <3 <3
Silvia Marquez
February 3, 2017 at 10:15 amI love this roundup! I read a couple of these and bookmarked some more for the future!
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:31 amYay! That makes me so happy Silvia!! <3 Thank you!
Taylor Smith
February 3, 2017 at 10:39 amGirl — these pictures are GORGEOUS. HOLY COW!! I love these posts!
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:32 amhaha thank you Taylor <3
Ashley Mason
February 4, 2017 at 9:08 amI totally agree on seeing so much negativity this month! I just result to reading to get away from it 🙂
Rachel Ritlop
February 5, 2017 at 9:32 amI’ve been reading too to escape from it! And I NEVER read!
Victoria Stacey
February 6, 2017 at 11:37 amMy boyfriend could really use these right now. He’s feeling really lost in his path, and I think it’s extra hard for him because I seem to know what I want to be mine.
Rachel Ritlop
February 7, 2017 at 5:02 pmYeah, I know what thats like… Hope he finds some clarity soon! I find that a lot of men are really struggling with finding their path recently… I know my husband feels like he is. It’s tough
Amy
February 6, 2017 at 2:55 pmDef need to check these posts out! Really needed this lately.
xoxo,
Amy | Pastel N Pink
Rachel Ritlop
February 7, 2017 at 5:01 pmHope some of them help Amy <3 Sending you positive vibes <3
Katie
February 9, 2017 at 8:45 pmThose Bachelor recaps! So good. Can we agree that having The Bachelor return to TV was the best part of January?
Tiffani Grosser
February 13, 2017 at 12:45 pmSuch a great roundup! I don’t always share my goals with everyone because sometimes I get nervous about people judging me or thinking my goals are silly.
Shannon Wong
August 1, 2017 at 12:20 pmThis is exactly what I need right now. Definitely going to be coming back to read these